Aeroplane-propelling wheel.



N. C. SGRENSEN.

AEROPLANE PROPELLING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1911.

1,032,162. Patented July 9, .1912.

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N. C. SORENSEN. AEROPLANE PROPELLING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1911.

l032, 162., Patented July 9, 1912.

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NIELS C. SORENSEN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AEROPLANE-PROPELLING WHEEL.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, NiELs C. SoRENsnN, asubject of the King of Denmark, and a resident of the city of Chicago,county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Aeroplane-Propelling lVheels, ofwhich thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in propelling wheels for aeroplanesor other flying machines, the object of the invention being to provide apropelling wheel of this class which shall be strong and durable andefficient in operat-ion.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a propelling wheel embodying myinvention, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the propelling wheel, Fig. 3 isan end elevation thereof, Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail elevation showingwing locking means employed in the propelling wheel, Fig. 5 is a detailtop plan view showing a portion .of said locking means, Fig. 6 is anenlarged view showing the wing locking means taken at right angles tothat shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view showing aportion of the wing operating mechanism employed in the propellingwheel.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawingscomprises a stationary horizontally disposed shaft 1 which may besecured in the frame of the aeroplane in any suitable manner. Rotatablymounted upon the shaft 1 and suitably connected with the aeroplane motoris a driving sleeve 2 which is formed integral with or rigidly connectedto the propelling wheel frame 3 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Theframe 3 is provided with two parallel side members which are arrangedparallel to each other and diametrically with reference to the shaft 1,there being an enlarged central portion in each side member formingbearings in which the shaft 1 is journaled. Transverse end members 4 areprovided in the frame 3, the joints between said end members and theside members of the frame being brazed or otherwise Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application led July 24, 1911.

Patented July9, 1912. Serial No. 640,211.

rigidly constructed. Transverse members 5 arranged intermediate the endmembers 4 and shaft 1 span the space between the side members 3, theends thereof being rigidly secured to said side members as illustratedin Fig. 2. The frame 3 is preferably formed of steel tubing forlightness and rigidity, but other constructions may be employed, as forinstance, members having L-shaped and T-shaped cross sections. Formedintegral with the shaft- 1 and arranged centrally between the sidemembers of the frame 3 is an eccentric 6 on the periphery of which ismounted an eccentric strap 7 as illustrated in Fig. 2. l

From the construction thus far described it is evident that when theframe 3 is revolved about the stationary shaft 1 that the arm 8projecting from one side of the eccentric strap 7 will movelongitudinally with reference to the side members of the frame 3,consequently an end wing 9 which is operated by said arm will beoscillated during the revolution of the wheel. It will be observed thatthe wing 9 is pivoted by means of hinges 1() to an end member 4 of theframe 3. To a point in the strap 7 diametrically opposite the arm 8 ispivoted an arm 11 by means of a bifurcated lug 19. and a pin 13 passingthrough the latter and said strap, the object of this construction beingto permit a slight oscillation of the arm 11 during the revolution ofthe wheel. Tere it not for the pivot-al construction of the arm 11 thedevice would be inoperative unless the arms 8 and 11 were formed offlexible material. An end wing 9 is pivoted by means of hinges 10 to theend of theframe 3 opposite the wing 9 as illustrated in Fig. 1. The arms8 and 11 pass through apertures provided in the end wings 9 and 9 andare provided with heads 14 for engaging the outer surfaces of said wingsas illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Due to the centrifugal force of thewings 9 and 9 during the revolutionof t-he propelling wheel said wingsconstantly engage the heads 14, the extreme positions of said wingsbeing illustrated in Fig. 1. The main wings 15 of the propeller arepivoted by means of hinges 1G to the side members of the frame 3 and areadapted to oscillate freely thereon. rlhese wings are rectangular inform with the exception of the outer ends which are preferably inclinedso as to be more nearly in co-incidence with the circle of rotation asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The principle of operation of this propelling wheel is that when one setof wings is closed or in operative position during a part of therevolution that other and similar wings will be opened or in inoperativeposition during the remaining portion of the revolution, thus providinga propelling wheel of the paddle wheel type which will be more positivein its operation than a helical propelling wheel as ordinarily used. InFigs. 1 and 2 the end wing 9 and the adjacent main wings 15 are shown inopen or inop erative position7 thus permitting the free passage of airtherethrough. In these figures the end wing 9 and the adjacent mainwings 15 are shown in closed or operative position which effects areactionary or upward movement upon the shaft l during the revolution inthe direction indicated by arrows in Fig. 1.

In order to control the opening and closing of the main wings 15connecting links 17 are provided the inner ends of which are pivoted toperforated lugs 18 provided on sliding collars 19. ,Inter-posed betweenthe sliding collars 19 and the inner ends of the arms 8 and 11 arehelical compression springs 2() provided for a purpose to be describedhereinafter. Stops 21 which project radially from the arms 8 and 11 areprovided to limit the movement of the sliding collars 19 in onedirection. It is apparent from this construction that when the arms 8and 11 are moved longitudinally relative to the frame 3 to which themain wings 15 are pivoted that the angularity of the links 17 willconstantly change and consequently cause said wings to open or closedepending upon the direction of movement of said arms.

It being important to hold the main wings 15 in closed position forimprisoning air during a certain portion of the revolution, mechanism isprovided to lock said wings in closed position as will be presentlydescribed. Said mechanism comprises a standard 22 which is centrallylocated on each transverse member 5 as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 1. The free extremity of the standard 22 is provided with aperforated lug 23 in which a rod 24 having a head 25 is mounted forsliding movement. rlhe rod 24 extends substantially parallel with thestandard 22 and the end thereof opposite the head 25 is passed through aperforated lug 26 extending laterally from the transverse frame member5, this construction being clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The rod 24 isnormally held in an elevated po sition by means of a helical spring 27surrounding said rod and abutting the lug 26 at one end and a block 28at the other, said block being formed integral with or rigidly securedto said rod adjacent the lower end thereof. An olf-set portion 24 isformed in the rod 24 to provide clearance for a sliding sleeve 29 havinga large opening or aperture 30 through which either the arm 8 or 11 ispassed. The sleeve 29 is connected by means of a pair of links 31 toadjacent the upper end of the lstandard 22 and to the block 2S, theconstruction being such that a collar 32 provided on the arms S and 11exterior to the sleeve 29 will-abut the adjacent end of said sleeve andcause the same to move from thenormal position as shown in dotted linesin the left of Fig. 1 to the position shown in the right of Fig. 1 andin Fig. 4, whereupon said sleeve is locked by contact with a stop pin 33projecting from the standard 22. It will be observed that due to theupward pressure of the spring 27 acting upon the links 31 that thesleeve 29 will not again be moved until a collar 34 similar to thecollar 82 con-- tacts with the other end of said sleeve. The links 31 inthe position shown in Fig. 4 are slightly out of line and the upwardpressure of the spring 27 causes the uppermost of said links to pressslightly againstithe stop 33. In this position of the rod 24 the head 25on said rod contacts with the free edges of the mainwings 15 formaintaining the same in closed position as shown in Fig. 3. Said wingswill continue to assume the closed position until the collar 34 on theinside of the sleeve 29 contacts with the latter and throws the links 31out of alinement, whereupon the spring 27 will automatically move therod 24 and head 25 upwardly for the releasement of t-he wings 15 whichare immediately opened. As aforesaid the opening and closing of the mainwings 15 is effected by means of the links 17 which extend from saidwings to the sliding collar 19. This collar is normally held in contactwith the diametric stop pin 21 by means of the action of the helicalcompression spring 20, but during the time that the wings 15 are held inclosed position by means of the head 25 on the rod 24 the collar 19 isforced from engagement with the pin 21 by the outward movement of t-hearm 11, thus compressing the spring 20. Upon releasement of the wings 15by the disengagement of the head 25 the connect-ing links 17 willimmediately begin to open said wings and the collar 19 be brought againinto its normal position by the expansion of the spring 20.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the wing lockingmechanisms mounted on the arms 8 and 11 are identical in constructionand due to the action of the eccentric 6 operate alternately.Simultaneously with the opening and closing of the main wings 15 the endwings 9 and 9 are opened and closed. These end Wings are held in theclosed position by means of inwardly projecting studs 35 provided ont-he main wings 15, the time of closing the latter being such that theend Wings will be in proper position for engagement with said studs asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

The operation of the propelling wheel is as follows Assuming that theparts of the wheel are in the position shown in Fig. 1, then uponfurt-her rotation of said wheel in the direction as indicated by arrowsin said figure the first action to take place will be the elevation ofthe head 25 in the right of said figure by the contact of the collar 34on the inner end of the sleeve 29. This aotion so moves the links 31 asto permit the free elevation of the rod 24 by the expansion of thespring 27. The wings at the right of Fig. 1 upon opening due to theoutward pressure of the connecting links 17 causes the simultaneousdisengagement of the studs 35 with the end wing 9 whereupon the latterwill Hy outwardly by centrifugal force. Upon the completion of one-halfa revolution the wings will be fully opened as shown at the left ofFig. 1. In order to close the wings again the eccentric strap 7 mustmove sufliciently on the eccentric 6 to effect the return movementof thearm 11, whereupon the connecting links 17 will draw the wings 15 towardeach other. When the free edges of said wings assume contiguouspositions the collar 32 comes in contact with the outer end of thesleeve 29 and moves the latter inwardly into the position shown in Fig.4,. thus causing the head 25 to lock the free edges of the wings 15 inthe position as shown in Fig. 3. The rod 241 is automatically held inlocking position by means of the spring 27 as hereinbefore described.

The construction and arrangement of the various parts of the propellingwheel is such that the movement of the various parts is effected withoutfriction or vibration.

A propelling wheel for aeroplanes as set forth is comparatively simpleof construction and highly efficient in its operation.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying `iny invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise detailsof construction as set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. An aeroplane propeller comprising a central stationary shaft, a framemounted for rotation upon said shaft and comprising spaced side members,a sleeve projecting from one side of one of said side members androtatably mounted upon said shaft, an eccentric rigidly formed on saidshaft intermediate said side members, an eccentric strap on saideccentric, arms extending from said eccentric strap to approximately theends of said frame, folding wings provided on the ends of said frame andconnected with the ends of said arms, a pair of foldable wings mountedon each end of said side members of said frame, and means connectingsaid arms with said pairs of wings for opening and closing the latter,substantially as described.

2. A propelling wheel comprising a central non-rotatable shaft, a framecomprising spaced side members which are rotatably mounted upon saidshaft, a sleeve formed integral with one of said side members andsurrounding said shaft, an eccentric carried by said shaft intermediatesaid side members, an eccentric strap provided on said eccentric, armsextending from diametrically opposite points of said strap to adjacentthe ends of said frame, wings mounted upon the ends of said frameconnected with the ends of said arms whereby the same are oscillatedduring the rotation of the wheel, a pair of wings mounted on each end ofsaid frame and adapted to swing in planes transversely thereof, linksconnecting the interior surface of each pair of wings with one of saidarms, said pairs of wings being adapted to swing so that their freeedges will be contiguous, and means for locking said free edges during apart of a revolution of said wheel, substantially as described.

3. A propelling wheel comprising a fixed shaft, a frame rotatablymounted on said shaft and comprising spaced side'members, transverselyextending end members connecting said side members, a sleeve surroundingsaid shaft in rigid relation with one of said side members, an eccentricprovided on said shaft intermediate said side members, an eccentricstrap rotatably .mounted on said eccentric, an arm formed integral withsaid eccentric strap extending to approximately one end of said frame, asecond arm pivoted to said strap at a point diametrically opposite saidfirstnamed arm and extending to approximately the other end of saidframe, end wings hinged to the end of said frame and arranged inoperative relation with said arms, a pair of main wings provided on eachend of said frame and hinged to the side members thereof, said mainwings being adapted to swing in planes transverse to said frame untiltheir free edges are contiguous, means connecting said main wings withsaid arms, and wing locking mechanism interposed between said arms andthe contiguous edges of said main wings, substantially as described.

4. In a propelling wheel, a fixed stationary shaft, a sleeve rotatablymounted upon said shaft, a rectangular frame also rotatably mounted uponsaid shaft and carrying said sleeve, said shaft passing through thecenter of said frame, the latter comprising parallel side members andtransversely extending end members, an eccentric carried by said shaftcentrally located between said side members, an eccentric strap carriedby said eccentric, an arm formed integral with said eccentric strapextending radially therefrom to approximately one end of said frame, asecond arm pivoted to said eccentric st-rap at a point thereondiametrically opposite said first mentioned arm and extendingapproximately to the other end of said frame, end wings hinged to saidend transverse members through apertures in which said arms extend,avpair of main wings hinged to the side members of said frame at eachend thereof, connecting links extending from said main wings to theadjacent arm, the connection of said links with their respective armsbeing resilient, the free edges of each pair of said main wingsbe ingadapted to meet, and mechanism for locking said meeting edges during aportion of the revolution of said wheel, substantially as described.

5. In a propelling wheel, a fixed stationary shaft, a sleeve rotatablymounted upon said shaft, a rectangular frame also rotatably mounted uponsaid shaft and carrying said sleeve, said shaft passing through thecenter of said frame, the latter comprising parallel side members andtransversely extending end members, an eccentric carried by said shaftcentrally located between said side members, an eccentric strap carriedby said eccentric, an arm formed integral with said eccentric strapextending radially therefrom to approximately one end of said frame, asecond arm pivoted to said eccentric strap at a point thereondiametrically opposite said irst named arm and extending approximatelyto the other end of said frame, end wings hinged to said end transversemembers through apertures in which said arms extend, a pair of mainwings hinged to the side members of said frame at each end thereof,connecting links extending from said main wings to the adjacent arm, theconnection of said links with their respective arms being resilient, thefree edges of each pair of saidmain wings being adapted to meet,mechanism for locking said meeting edges during a portion of therevolution of said wheel comprising a standard formed integral with saidframe, a slidable rod having a head at one end mounted in the free endof said standard and said frame for free movement, said rod passingbetween the meeting edges of said wings, said head being adapted toembrace the. free edges of said wings when in their meeting position, asleeve mounted upon said arm and adapted to be slid thereon by raisedportions or collars provided on said arm at either end of said sleeve,connecting links extending between said standard and said rod, and ahelical spring surrounding said rod and adapted to maintain the latterin a normally elevated position, substantially as described. Intestimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

' NIELS C. ISORENSEN. K Witnesses:

W. C. SMITH, JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). C.

